Political parties debate Elections Bill
Dr. Jassim Taqui
DG Al-Bab Institute for Strategic Studies
Islamabad, December 16, 2021: UNDP in collaboration with PILDAT
organized a Consultation Forum today on the
latest Electoral Reforms currently under debate in the Parliament. The objective of
today’s event was to inform and engage citizens and policymakers to strengthen
the electoral
processes in Pakistan for free, fair, and credible elections in 2023.
The Consultation Forum was attended by representatives of nine political parties including Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP-P), Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan (JUI), Muttahida Quami Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Balochistan Awami Party (BAP), Awami National Party (ANP), National Party (NP) and Balochistan National Party-Mengal (BNP-M).
MNA & Federal Minister of Information & Broadcasting, Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, provided the government’s perspective and overview of the proposed amendments in the bill.
In her welcome
remarks, Ms. Aliona Niculita, Resident Representative a.i. UNDP Pakistan
expressed her pleasure upon seeing all the major
political parties of Pakistan as well as civil society and media together to discuss electoral reforms
for credible, fair, and inclusive elections in Pakistan. She said that UNDP’s project on Strengthening
Electoral and Legislative Processes (SELP) works to promote accountability and transparency and it
was an honor for the UNDP to organize today’s event.
Meanwhile, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President PILDAT said that the purpose of today’s forum was to discuss and debate those electoral reforms that are currently before the Parliament and take perspectives along with the exchange of view among political parties, civil society, and media. It was hoped that some level of consensus or a contribution may be made towards consensus on electoral reforms in Parliament.
UNDP Pakistan’s Strengthening Electoral and Legislative Processes (SELP) Project seeks to develop more inclusive, and accountable democratic institutions, systems, and processes. It improves the supply side of governance by enhancing the capacity of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the Senate, and Provincial Assemblies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan. Moreover, the project supports the demand side by developing the capacity of civil society in advocacy and civic engagement. Increasing the representation of women, youth, and minorities, the project informs all aspects of programming.
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